Critic’s choice in fall dance offerings

When you see four or more dance performances a every month, even the good ones may blur together. Not so Compagnie Jant-Bi. The Senegalese modern dance troupe made a searing impression in its San Diego debut at the University of California San Diego five years ago.

Jant-Bi performed “Fagaala”; the title, in the Senegalese Wolof language, translates as “genocide,” and the dance was a response to the mass slaughters in Rwanda. In an unforgettable moment, a muscular dancer in the all-male company softened his gestures and “transformed” into a woman in front of your eyes.

Jant-Bi returns to UCSD on Oct. 13 with “Waxtaan” — Wolof for “discussion.” The dance satirizes political posturing and also celebrates African dance forms, with movements drawn from the dances of several African countries, says choreographer Patrick Acogny.

“We wanted to honor … the dances from our African ancestors, but by giving them a new and contemporary reading,” he says.

Photos of the piece, with the dancers in suits, suggest the Kurt Jooss classic “The Green Table” with an African twist.

Other fall offerings of note

“Stick Together,” Mojalet’s collaboration with the Swiss percussion group Rhythm Talk, comes to four locations Sept. 24-Oct. 6. Dancers will perform to a World Music array of drums, gongs and other joyful noise.

Jean Isaacs’ brainstorm — ride the rails to see some half-dozen performances close to trolley stops — has become one of San Diego’s signature arts events. The route starts at the County Administration Building and runs Sept. 25-Oct. 3.

San Diego Ballet celebrates its 20th anniversary with a “best of” showcase Oct. 22 and follows up Oct. 23 with “Firebird” and two premieres by witty resident choreographer Javier Velasco. At the Lyceum Theatre.

Eveoke bases “Las Mariposas” on the Julia Alvarez novel “In the Time of the Butterflies,” about real-life sisters caught up in political turmoil in the Dominican Republic. Runs Nov. 26-Dec. 19 at the 10th Avenue Theatre.

Where’s the next gen of San Diego modern-dance choreographers? In this concert, 18- to 40-year-old dance makers will premiere work at the Neurosciences Institute Dec. 19 and compete for a $2,500 prize.